RAFFORD, a parish, in the county of Elgin, 3 miles (S. E. by E.) from Forres; containing 9S7 inhabitants, of whom 67 are in the village of Rafford. The various modes in which the name has at different times been spelt, have proved a source of much perplexity in ascertaining its derivation; but most antiquaries, supported by the authority of Chalmers, are of opinion that it may be traced to the Celtic term raths, signifying " forts or strong places on hills", and applied to the locality on account of the numerous eminences in it which answer to that character. This place was formerly the seat of the sub-chantor of Moray, and comprehended part of Kinloss, a modern parish formed from Rafford and AJves. In I66I, the old parish of Altyre was disjoined from that of Dallas, to which it had been annexed, and was united to Rafford. The parish is situated in the northern portion of the county, a few miles from the Moray Firth, and is bounded on the west by the river Findhorn; extending about eight miles in length and from three to five in breadtli, and comprising an area of 10,187 acres. Of this area, 3550 acres are cultivated; 3695 occupied by wood and plantations; and the remainder natural pasture and waste, '280 acres of the latter being considered capable of profitable cultivation. The outline is very irregular: a narrow strip of land belonging to Forres stretches for about two miles into Rafford; and a part of this parish, also, runs into the former, nearly up to the burgh of Forres. The surface is richly diversified with all the features of Highland and Lowland scenery, the former being characteristic of the upper, and the latter of the lower, part of the district. A valley that traverses the centre displays in its continuous undulations all the varieties of wood, water, and well-cultivated grounds. None of the hills are of great height; but from several points beautiful prospects are obtained, especially from the vicinities of Altyre and the castles of Burgie and Blervie, whence the fertile province of Moray is seen to advantage, and, in the distance, the counties of Inverness, Ross, Cromarty, Caithness, and Sutherland. Among the lochs, that of Romacli, forming part of the southern boundary, is the most distinguished. It is only about a mile long, and not more than one-eighth of that extent in breadth; but its secluded situation in a wild and dreary tract, and its lofty precipitous banks with their well laid out walks in the midst of romantic scenery, render it an interesting and attractive object. This piece of water abounds in fine trout; and from it flows the rivulet called Hack Burn, which, increasing in size as it advances, winds along the fertile valley of Pluscarden, celebrated for its priory. On the estate of Altyre is the loch of Blairs, or " loch of the moss", also well stocked with trout; and a small loch named Tulloch is to be seen on the estate of Blervie: this has been lately much reduced by draining. The Findhorn, flowing between lofty and rocky banks, richly ornamented with plants, shrubs, and trees, is a rapid and impetuous stream, and frequently causes damage to the crops when it is swollen with rain. This is also the case with the burns of Altyre and Rafford, which, in rough weather, bring down large deposits of gravel and the debris of rocks to the lands in their vicinity, to the great annoyance and loss of the farmer. On the 6th of August, 1838, the latter of these streams was converted into a destructive and dangerous torrent by a water-spout, carrying away in its impetuous course both banks and bridges, and overflowing and destroying to a considerable extent some valuable crops, among which was a beautiful field of wheat on the minister's glebe. The SOIL comprises the numerous varieties of light sand, deep rich clay, moss, shallow gravelly mould, and dark loam resting on rock. It is regarded as a peculiarity, that the deepest soils here are on the most elevated grounds, and the most fertile tracts those with a northern exposure. All kinds of grain and green crops are raised, of good quality; the annual average value of the produce being about £12,500, including about £500 for cuttings of wood. The six-shift rotation system of husbandry is followed, with other approved modern usages; and the draining of the lands, and the wellknown salubrity of the climate of Jloray, have aided the efforts of the farmer in elevating the agricultural character of the locality. The farms are of considerable size, many small ones having been consolidated within the last few years; the rent of the arable lands averages £1.5. per acre, and the leases are generally for nineteen years. The small-horned, white-faced breed of sheep has been in a great measure superseded by the Cheviot; the cattle are the Highland, the polled Aberdeenshire, and the short-horned: much attention has been paid to stock, and many prizes have been awarded by agricultural societies to this parish. Among the improvements that have been effected here may be mentioned extensive draining, and the increase of threshing-mills; the farmhouses, also, are in general good, but the fences still very deficient. The substrata of the parish are composed chiefly of gneiss, and grey and red sandstone; of the last there is a quarry in operation, supplying a material of inferior quality: the grey slate of Rafford, formerly in much demand, has not lately been wrought, a preference being given to the blue slate of Easdale. The annual value of real property in Rafford is £3979. The plantations are principally larch and Scotch fir; but there are some noble oaks and beeches, and in the garden of Burgie is an unusually fine sycamore. The house of Blervie, for the erection of which the greater part of an ancient castle was taken down, stands on an estate that once belonged to a branch of the Dunbar family: the property was sold about the commencement of the last century to Alexander Macintosh, who was " laird of Blairie" in 1713 and 17'24, and from whom it was purchased by William, Earl of Fife. The tower of the old castle, containing five stories, and the staircase, are still remaining. The mansion of Burgie, built in 1802, stands about "200 yards from the site of the castle of Burgie, whose square tower, similar to that of Blervie, but more elegant, still remains; the original great hall in connexion with the tower, and the house that was added to the castle in 1702, were taken down to furnish materials for the present mansion-house of Burgie. This estate came to the Dunbars through Katherine Reid, niece of the last abbot of Kinloss; who was married to Alexander Dunbar, first lord of Burgie of that name. Another property in the parish, that of Altyre, belonged in the fourteenth century to the family of Cumyn, or Gumming, a descendant of which, in 16.57. married Lucy, daughter of Sir Ludovick Gordon of Gordonstown; through whom the estate of Gordonstown came to Alexander Penrose Gumming, of Altyre, on the death of .Sir William Gordon of Gordonstown, Bart., in 1795. Mr. Gumming then assumed the arms of the Gordons, and was created a baronet of Great Britain in 1804. The family is now represented by Sir William G. G. Gumming, his son. The beautiful grounds of the mansion stretch to the banks of the river Fiiidhorn. There is a hill on this estate still called " Gallovv hill", where the sentences of the baron-cniirt of Altyre were executed. The turni)ike-road betwcenKlgin and Forres runs through the northern part of the parish; the mail and several public coaches daily travel on it, and to the latter place the inhabitants send their produce for sale. Fairs for cattle are held in Ai)ril and November. Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Forres, synod of Moray, and in the patronage of James Campbell Brodie, Esq., of Lcthen: the minister's stipend is £223, with a niause, and a glebe of about seven acres, valued at £6 per annum. Rafford church, built in 1826, is a handsome and commodious edifice, situated nearly in the centre of the parish, and contains sittings for 600 persons. The members of the Free Church have a place of worship. The parochial school affords instruction in the usual branches: the master has a salary of £34. 4., a house, and an allowance for a garden, and receives upwards of £20 fees; he also participates in the benefit of the Dick bequest. Sueno's Stone, standing about half a mile eastward from the town of Forres, on the estate of the Earl of Moray, is supposed to have been erected by the Scots in commemoration of the important victory gained at the battle of Mortlach over the Danes who had been sent to this part of Scotland by King Sueno. It is an obelisk of hard sandstone, twenty-three feet high above the ground, and thought to extend twelve feet deep; four feet broad at the base; and fifteen inches thick. The southern side contains five divisions, each distinguished by numerous figures and representations of the most curious and interesting kind, cut in relief. A late Countess of Moray caused some stone steps to be placed at the foot, for a support to the monument. A relic somewhat similar, with indications of a Runic origin, stands at Altyre. On the estate of Burgie have been discovered, among other remains, several ancient coffins, each formed of five slabs of undressed freestone. Dr. Alexander Adam, for many years rector of the High School at Edinburgh, and well known as the author of Roman Antiquities, Classical Biograpliy, &c., was a native of this parish.